Jump to: Contact | News stories | Outputs

ASSAR’s overall concern was to generate knowledge that can support adaptation for the poorer and often politically-marginalised people facing livelihood and wellbeing stresses in semi-arid regions. To this end, ASSAR’s primary research question and research framework placed high emphasis on understanding the barriers and enablers to adaptation in this context.

We were by no means the first project to try to understand how different factors constrain or promote the chances of achieving success in adaptation initiatives and actions. However, one thing we did do distinctively is explicitly frame our view of barriers and enablers in a normative sense – that is, in relation to explicit goals of how adaptation should proceed. We were not just interested in what makes any form of adaptation work; we were interested in what encourages or prevents effective, widespread and sustained adaptation that aligns with the aspirations of local communities.

The attention to barriers and enablers in this sense was imbued in all of the strands of our work (governance, social differentiation, ecosystem services, gender and knowledge systems). This helped to define not just what we studied and how, but how we approached the challenges of working with stakeholders, encouraging more participatory and transformative modes of engagement. Research on barriers and enablers was therefore an overarching rather than specific theme in ASSAR. Nevertheless, by comparing the insights drawn from our empirical cases with the existing body of literature on barriers and enablers, we think it is important to highlight two key points:

First, many discussions of barriers and enablers in adaptation focus on matters relating to finance, technology, skills, institutional capacity, and governance. But from our people-centred work in ASSAR we emphasise a strong, and in some case central role, that cultural factors may play in shaping development, uptake, and effectiveness of adaptation actions. By culture we refer to shared traits such as worldviews, values, norms, taboos, behaviours, and tastes that are often institutionalised within cultural structures related, for example, to social status, caste and gender. The importance of recognising cultural dynamics in this context is key, especially in semi-arid regions where deep-rooted traditions tend now to be confronted by rapid environmental and social change.

Second, we draw attention not just to the existence of multiple forms of barriers and enablers, but to their interaction in shaping adaptation outcomes. Just as different forms of enablers could combine to increase the chances of progress, so multiple interacting barriers can be mutually reinforcing to severely constrain progress. Equally, different factors can, in effect, counteract one another, with some acting to strengthen while others act to undermine the uptake and success of adaptation actions. Furthermore, barriers can be dynamic and change over time, with barriers in one adaptation context morphing into enablers at certain times or in certain situations. These interactions can often be highly complex and context-specific; but attempts to understand how a web of interacting factors is likely to play out in terms of shaping the conditions for successful development, uptake and effectiveness of adaptation actions is a key consideration for all those promoting effective adaptation.


Contact

Roger Few (R.Few@uea.ac.uk), University of East Anglia

Related news stories

Adaptation is about people: a new ASSAR video

With a strong focus on understanding the factors that enhance or diminish people's vulnerability and wellbeing, and the responses they take to deal with both climatic and non-climatic stressors, ASSAR focused on the most marginalised.

Related outputs

Type

Author(s)

Year

Title

Details

Links

Book chapter Bendapudi, R., Kumbhar, N., Gaikwad, P. and Lobo, C. 2019 Agro-met services and farmer responsiveness to advisories: Implications for climate-smart agriculture. In: W. L. Filho (ed.) Handbook of climate change resilience. Cham: Springer. Poster
Book chapter Davies, J., Spear, D., Chappel, A., Joshi, N., Togarepi, C. and Kunamwene, I. 2018 Considering religion and tradition in climate smart agriculture: Insights from Namibia. In: T. Rosenstock, A. Nowak and E. Girvetz (eds.) The Climate-Smart Agriculture Papers. Cham: Springer, pp. 187-197. Summary
Book chapter Shaibu, M. T., Alhassan, S. I., Avornyo, F. K., Lawson, E. T., Mensah, A. and Gordon, C. 2019 Perceptions and determinants of the adoption of indigenous strategies for adaptation to climate change: Evidence from smallholder livestock farmers in north-west Ghana. In: J. K. Kuwornu (ed.) Climate Change and Sub-Saharan Africa: The vulnerability and adaptation of food supply chain factors. Vernon Press, pp. 229-249.  
Information brief ASSAR 2016 Barriers and enablers of climate change adaptation in semi-arid Ghana.    
Information brief Bosworth, B., Hegga, S. and Ziervogel, G. 2018 When participation is not enough: Lessons from decentralised water governance in Namibia.    
Information brief CARIAA 2018 Climate adaptation policy.    
Information brief Davies, J. 2017 Barriers and enablers to climate change adaptation in north-central Namibia.    
Information brief Few, R. 2017 Drought does not work alone.    
Information brief Few, R., Singh, C., Spear, D., Davies, J., Tebboth, M. G. L., Sidibe, A, Mensah, A. and Thompson-Hall, M. 2018 When adaptation barriers and enablers intersect: Key considerations for adaptation planning drawn from ASSAR’s findings.    
Information brief Singh, C., Michael, K. and Bazaz, A. 2017 Barriers and enablers to climate adaptation: Evidence from rural and urban India.    
Journal article Ahmed, A., Lawson, E. T., Mensah, A., Gordon, C. and Padgham, J. 2016 Adaptation to climate change or non-climatic stressors in semi-arid regions? Evidence of gender differentiation in three agrarian districts of Ghana. Environmental Development, 20: 45-58. Summary
Journal article Deshpande, T., Michael, K. and Bhaskara, K. 2018 Barriers and enablers of local adaptive measures: A case study of Bengaluru’s informal settlement dwellers. Local Environment, DOI: 10.1080/13549839.2018.1555578. Information brief
Journal article Few, R. and Tebboth, M. G. L. 2018 Recognising the dynamics that surround drought impacts. Journal of Arid Environments, 157: 113-115. Summary; Information brief
Journal article Gajjar, S. P., Singh, C. and Deshpande, T. 2018 Tracing back to move ahead: A review of development pathways that constrain adaptation features. Climate and Development. Summary
Journal article Mugari, E., Masundire, H., Bolaane, M. and New, M. 2018 Perceptions of ecosystem services provision performance in the face of climate change among communities in Bobirwa sub-district, Botswana. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management. Presentation
Journal article Ofoegbu, C., New, M. G. and Kibet, S. 2018 The effect of inter-organisational collaboration networks on climate knowledge flows and communication to pastoralists in Kenya. Sustainability, 10(11): 4180.  
Journal article Ofoegbu, C., New, M., Nyamwanza, A. M. and Spear, D. 2018 Understanding the current state of collaboration in the production and dissemination of adaptation knowledge in Namibia. Environment, Development and Sustainability.  
Journal article Sidibé, A., Totin, E., Thompson-Hall, M., Traoré, O. T., Traoré, P. C. S. and Olabisi, L. S. 2018 Multi-scale governance in agriculture systems: Interplay between national and local institutions around the production dimension of food security in Mali. NJAS - Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences, 84: 94-102. Summary; English information brief; French information brief
Journal article Singh, C., Daron, J., Bazaz, A., Ziervogel, G., Spear, D., Krishnaswamy, J., Zaroug, M. and Kituyi, E. 2018 The utility of weather and climate information for adaptation decision-making: Current uses and future prospects in Africa and India. Climate and Development, 10(5): 389-405. Summary; Video
Journal article Singh, C., Rahman, A., Srinivas, A. and Bazaz, A. 2018 Risks and responses in rural India: Implications for local climate change adaptation action. Climate Risk Management, 21: 52-68. Summary; Information brief
Journal article Solomon, D. S. and Rao, N. 2018 Wells and wellbeing in South India. Economic & Political Weekly, 53(17). Infographic; Information brief
Journal article Spear, D. and Chappel, A. 2018 Livelihoods on the edge without a safety net: The case of smallholder crop farming in north-central Namibia. Land, 7(3): 79. Summary
Journal article Davies, J., Spear, D., Ziervogel, G., Hegga, S., Angula, M., Kunamwene, I. and Togarepi, C. 2019 Avenues of understanding: Mapping the intersecting barriers to adaptation in Namibia.   Poster, Information brief
Publication in progress Degefu, M. A., Assen, M., Few, R. and Tebboth, M. G. L. _ Perceptions of local people on impacts and management of Prosopis juliflora in arid/semi-arid regions of the Middle Awash Valley, Ethiopia.   Poster
Publication in progress Few, R., Singh, C., Spear, D., Tebboth, M., Davies, J., Thompson-Hall, M. and Muhvich, K. _ The role of culture as a barrier and enabler to adaptation in semi-arid lands.    
Publication in progress Gitonga, Z. and Visser, M. _ Evaluating access, use and impact of climate information on welfare and use of adaptive strategies by rural families in arid regions of northern Namibia.    
Publication in progress Kaur, H., Bazaz, A. and Srinivas, A. _ Understanding access to knowledge systems and rural perspectives from Karnataka.    
Publication in progress Ofoegbu, C. and New, M. _ The effect of inter-organisational collaboration networks on climate knowledge flows and communication to rural farmers in Ghana.    
Publication in progress Pillai, S. and Bendapudi, R. _ Inclusion of local aspirations in village development plans in Maharashtra.    
Publication in progress Satyal, P., Budds, J., Few, R., Bahir, A., Kibet, S. _ Adaptation to climate change in the context of decentralisation: Exploring multi-level governance of water-related issues in semi-arid areas of East Africa.   Presentation
Publication in progress Shaibu, M. T., Onumah, E. E. and Al-Hassan, R. M. _ A comparative analysis of levels and intensity of adoption of climate change adaptation strategies among livestock farmers in North-West Ghana.    
Journal article Singh, C., Solomon, D., Bendapudi, R., Kuchimanchi, B., Iyer, S. and Bazaz, A. 2019 What shapes vulnerability and risk management in semi-arid India? Moving towards an agenda of sustainable adaptation.   Summary
Publication in progress Sinha, B. and Bendapudi, R. _ Identifying differential vulnerabilities of rural communities in semi-arid region of Maharashtra through a wellbeing approach.   Poster
Publication in progress Totin, E., Sidibe, A. and Thompson-Hall, M. _ Governance of resources: Is there space for implementing the land policy under complex customary tenure practices?   Presentation
Report Singh, C., Basu, R. and Srinivas, A. 2016 Livelihood vulnerability and adaptation in Kolar District, Karnataka, India: Mapping risks and responses.    
Thesis Abass, R. 2018 Formal and informal institutions in climate change adaptation: the case of Lawra and Nandom districts in the upper west region. Master's thesis. University of Ghana. Poster
Thesis Akugre, F.A. 2017 Implications of land tenure rights on farmers’ adaptive capacity to climate variability and change in semi-arid North-Western Ghana: The case of crop farmers in the Lawra district. Master's thesis. University of Ghana.  
Thesis Chappel, A. 2018 Barriers and enablers to the adoption of practices to improve crop production and reduce vulnerability to climate risks in the semi-arid Omusati Region, Namibia. Master's thesis. University of Cape Town. Poster
Thesis Davies, J. 2016 Exploring the factors and actors that contribute to the co-production of climate adaptation plans: A comparison of three municipalities in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Master's thesis. University of Cape Town.  
Thesis Gitonga, Z. _ Leveraging climate information, improved adaptive technology and migration to build resilience and reduce vulnerability of rural communities to climate risks in arid and semi-arid lands. PhD thesis. University of Cape Town.  
Thesis Kaba-Ayamba, O. _ The influence of adaptation intervention from ecosystem services and wellbeing: A comparative study in the Lawra and Nandom districts of Upper West Ghana. PhD thesis. University of Ghana.  
Thesis Lente, I. 2017 Poster
Thesis Mosime, B. 2018 The use of traditional weather forecasting by agro-pastoralists of different social groups in Bobirwa sub-district, Botswana. Master's thesis. University of Cape Town.  
Thesis Selato, J. C. 2017 Credibility and scale as barriers to uptake and use of seasonal climate forecasts in Bobirwa Sub-District, Botswana. Master's thesis. University of Cape Town. Presentation
Thesis Shaibu, M. T. 2016 Climate change adaptation strategies of small livestock farmers of Nandom and Lawra. Master's thesis. University of Ghana. Poster
Thesis Shooya, O. 2017 Barriers and enablers to water access and community wellbeing in the Onesi constituency of Namibia: The case of Okalonga B and Onandjandja villages. Master's thesis. University of Cape Town.  
Toolkit/guide Hegde, G., Singh, C. and Kaur, H. 2018 Adaptation as innovation: Lessons from smallholder farmers in rainfed Karnataka. [Information Booklet]   Kannada booklet
Working paper Bendapudi, R., Yadav, A., Chemburkar, S., D’Souza, M. and Thomas, R. 2019 Adaptation or maladaptation: Case of farm ponds converted into storage tanks in Maharashtra: Implications for groundwater governance.   Poster
Working paper D’Souza, M., Rao, K. B., Awasthi, S., Nazareth, D. and Bendapudi, R. 2017 Identifying climate risks and assessing differential vulnerability of communities in Ahmednagar and Aurangabad Districts of Maharashtra.    
Working paper Degefu, M. A., Assen, M. and McGahey, D. 2018 Climate variability and impact in ASSAR’s East African region.    
Working paper Few, R., Bendapudi, R., Mensah, A. and Spear, D. 2016 Transformation in adaptation: Learning from ASSAR’s regional diagnostic studies.    
Working paper Few, R., Satyal P., Assen M., Camfield L., Leavy J. and McGahey D. 2018 The development-adaptation spectrum in dryland East Africa: mapping risks, responses and critical questions for social research.    
Working paper Misquitta, K. and Thatte, K. 2018 Whose appropriate technology? Understanding the adoption of micro-irrigation in the face of climate and policy uncertainty.    
Working paper Pradyumna, A., Bendapudi, R., Zade, D. and D’Souza, M. 2018 Heat stress – vulnerability, health impacts, and coping strategies in rural communities in the semi-arid region of Maharashtra, India.    
Working paper Singh, C., Gajjar, S. P. and Deshpande, T. 2016 Policies, projects and people: Exploring the adaptation-development spectrum in India.    
Working paper Singh, C., Urquhart, P. and Kituyi, E. 2016 From pilots to systems: Barriers and enablers to scaling up the use of climate information services in smallholder farming communities.    
Journal article Werners, S. E., Wise, R., Butler, J., Totin, E. and Vincent, K. _ Learning from adaptation pathway development: key characteristics and guiding principles.    
Video ASSAR 2019 Does knowledge enhance adaptive capacities in semi-arid regions? Perspectives from ASSAR's work.